Intersting...that's definitely the most un-typical social housing I've seen...the houses look kind of similar to many modern single-family and rowhouses found in German suburbs/small cities, esp. the solar panels are very common in Germany too...but I believe that this isn't typical Japanese social housing, since there isn't a lot of space in Japan...

In Colombia the State doesn't build the housing. Its made by private construction companies which sell them at a very cheap price and they're given a subsidy for the purchase. People with in the low strata (1) and with low income are the only ones who can receive the Social Interest Housing (SIH), Vivienda de Interés Social in Spanish.

I haven't heard of any highrise SIH in Bogotá. The SIH neighbourhoods tend to be like this in Bogotá:

In Medellín, since there's no much available land, they build highrises instead:

Toronto is making a concerted effort to improve the quality and beauty of public housing to give disadvantaged people pride of home and dignity. This is Regent's Park just east of downtown Toronto. It's considered a failed attempt at government housing. The eradication of the street grid and the ghettoization of poor people has led to crime and safety problems.

Toronto is tearing down the entire development, re-establishing the street grid, and building a mixed income neighbourhood. The idea is that market price condo units will subsidize the construction of the public housing units.

Toronto has had great success with mixed income projects. The quality and beauty of housing is higher to attract higher income people. Pride of home decreases crime and increases people's motivation to look maintain or upgrade their residences. Crime plummets.

This is a huge change of thinking and a pivotal moment in many ways. This will have far reaching repercussions for Toronto beyond simply an investment in public housing. When you build something of quality and beauty for a disadvantaged group in society, you send a powerful message.

You're telling them that they are valued in our society and we're not prepared to leave people behind or forget about them. When you give people pride of home and dignity, you go a long way into building a solid foundation for which these people to prosper. We all win in the end.

If we can set this as the benchmark for all government housing in Toronto, we should see positive things happen in many other areas. Lower crime, a more motivated population, a more productive population, and a society that is more connected to the needs of all of its citizens.

I got these two pictures from the Internet, I know they look incredible, but they are real, just look closley

image hosted on flickrimage hosted on flickr
This is how most suburbs in my country look now a days. Also many of these government low income housing are being build as towers similar to those in Paris, especially in Mexico City.

I got these two pictures from the Internet, I know they look incredible, but they are real, just look closley

image hosted on flickrimage hosted on flickr
This is how most suburbs in my country look now a days. Also many of these government low income housing are being build as towers similar to those in Paris, especially in Mexico City.

WHAT Y' GUYS THINK?

hmmm... looks like a computer model to me.

The new tower in Regent's Park (Toronto) looks fantastic. Very Scandinavian. The area doesn't look too bad, nothing like what I was expecting from 'Toronto's worst housing estate'. It makes the British and American ones look rather nice.

The new tower in Regent's Park (Toronto) looks fantastic. Very Scandinavian. The area doesn't look too bad, nothing like what I was expecting from 'Toronto's worst housing estate'. It makes the British and American ones look rather nice.

ITS NOT A COMPUTER MODEL these are real photos taken on a helicopter, ive personally been there, but i didnt have camera, its in a subur of the federal district called Iztapalapa, well its just outside the federal district in the eastern part of mexico state

Ever notice how little graffiti there is in Regent Park? You would think the place would be covered in it but there is very little, especially compared to neighbourhoods like Queen St. West or Spadina.

Ever notice how little graffiti there is in Regent Park? You would think the place would be covered in it but there is very little, especially compared to neighbourhoods like Queen St. West or Spadina.

Why? Graffiti doesn't go with poverty, it goes with creativity...which is why Queen West, Kensington, and Chinatown are so heavily painted.

ITS NOT A COMPUTER MODEL these are real photos taken on a helicopter, ive personally been there, but i didnt have camera, its in a subur of the federal district called Iztapalapa, well its just outside the federal district in the eastern part of mexico state

Finished in 1972 and containing 1444 dwellings, only about 1/3 remains as the rest was demolished. Curiously some of the unusally tall lift shafts have been kept (without lifts) despite the estate never being a high-rise. The blocks remaining have been refurbished and remodelled extensively. The 3rd floor walkway originally gave access to all of the flats, even those at ground level. Bridges have been removed, security doors installed and ground and first floor flats have new entrances from the ground floor. The whole estate was re-roofed in the 80's or 90's as it originally had flat roofs.

North Peckham was linked by footbridge to the Gloucester Grove Estate to the north and the Camden Estate to the south. It was therefore possible to walk from Peckham High Street to Burgess Park 3 levels up and without having to cross a road.